CLEVELAND, Ohio -- People who would like to speak at the 2019 Milestones National Autism Conference at the Cleveland I-X Center are being asked to submit their presentation ideas.
The conference, June 11-12, will be held in Cleveland for the 17th straight year. Milestones Autism Resources, which is headquartered in Warrensville Heights, recently opened a "Call for Proposals," inviting people with autism-related expertise or experience to submit their ideas as potential speakers at the conference.
Proposals may be submitted at milestones.org through Jan. 15. The website includes other conference and registration information, as well as more than 1,400 autism resources. Professionals, caregivers, parents and individuals on the autism spectrum are encouraged to submit to share their research, perspectives and insight.
"Milestones strives to supply the highest caliber of presenters at our conference, speakers who will provide practical strategies and represent the breadth of identities and disciplines within the autism community at large," said conference director Leslie Rotsky.
"Our speakers set the tone of the entire event, so our goal every year is to bring an array of experts, parents and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder from across the country and around the world to present the best information possible to our attendees," Rotsky said.
Milestones seeks conference proposal submissions for practical, evidence-based strategies for all ages, stages and abilities within the autism community. Noted author Michelle Garcia Winner, the founder of "Social Thinking," will be the keystone speaker.
Milestones Autism Resources, which was founded in 2003, seeks to improve the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum by educating, coaching and connecting the autism community with evidence-based information. Milestones serves professionals in the autism field, individuals who have autism and parents through a free autism help desk, as well as trainings and guidance services.
Speaker benefits at the conference will include free admission, parking and meals; the opportunity to network with world-class leaders and colleagues in the field; access to new information; and Continuing Education Units.
Last year, more than 170 speakers convened at the conference, with individuals from 22 states and from other nations in attendance.
"What's great about the Milestones National Autism Conference is that the information shared is practical, research-based and ready to use immediately: at home, at school, in the workplace and in the community," Milestones Executive Director Ilana Hoffer Skoff said.
"What this event also does each year is that it provides an opportunity and a forum for individuals with autism to present and share their perspective. We are driven to support our community directly through the annual conference because it is based on the entire mission of Milestones, which is if we educate the community with life-long strategies for success, the services offered will be improved and individuals on the spectrum will have the tools they need to meet their own unique potential," she said.
Skoff cites numerous reasons why Cleveland hosts the conference.
"Cleveland ranks in the top five best cities for people living with autism; there is a vast network of resources and passion here for the autism community," she said.
"Cleveland also has a history of being a forerunner for the medical community and has a deeply rooted reputation for being a city that philanthropically fulfills the needs of its citizens. That is why this conference and organization are able to thrive and grow here."